This site requires flash

New Waves & New Ways

Galatians #4


Galatians 1:15 – 2:1

In the book of Acts, the center of activity switches from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 13) even though Jerusalem stays important in Acts 15.  At this time, the primary leadership is switching from Peter to Paul.

The reach of the church is changing from Jews-only to including Gentiles, and then almost to focusing entirely on Gentiles.

1. A new wave is coming – God is preparing the surfers to catch the wave.

Paul is being prepared for a move God has in mind down the road.  Paul is put out front as the leader – but he’s not the initiator. 

A surfer might think, as he is riding a wave, “I’m leading this wave to shore!!”  But in actuality, the wave is carrying him. 

This is the mystery of leadership in the kingdom of God.  He always raises up a leader – a Paul, Moses, David, Joseph – but it’s not necessarily their leadership that’s making things happen. 

2. Great, godly leadership is not developed overnight.

Moses spent 40 years out of sight; Joseph spent 13 years out of sight; Paul is being developed in a season away from the limelight for a day when he will be thrust into the limelight.

3. God is developing in you now what He has in mind for you for the future.

Champions are made in the off season.  What you are going through now is preparing you for something coming up next. 

With every vision there is the birth of that vision and then the death of that vision – this death is really the death of your flesh.  Remember Jacob’s limping leg, Isaiah’s burned lips, Paul’s thorny side?  This was their flesh dying!

Joseph gets a vision.  Then it’s the pit, the prison, and finally the palace.  Moses gets the call – then it’s forty years before he sees that call fulfilled.  David gets anointed – then he has to hide in caves.

4. Every new vision means something new (or old) has to die.

Paul, Peter, and the church in Acts had to adjust to a new location center -Jerusalem to Antioch – and a new emphasis – Jews to Gentiles. 

To make it up the mountain God has for you,  you have to unload some more baggage!

5. We must remain fluid in moving with the times and seasons of God.

The capacity to stay fluid and flexible is vital in order to thrive.

For our society, long range planning is impossible.  Who can know the landscape in the next 5, 10 years?  However preparedness is in entirely different thing.  Preparedness can deal with fluid changes.

Being flexible is not the same thing as being impetuous.  God doesn’t turn on a dime – but He does move on.  A prepared man can respond to God’s moving.

6. We must develop a trans-generational mentality to stay in God’s flow.

The transition from Peter to Paul brought a primarily Jewish-based outreach to include Gentiles.  Peter gets a revelation of this, but Paul is the one who takes this ministry to new levels.  Peter is a man God uses in tremendous ways, but the mantle passes on. 

God’s plan and purpose is bigger than one generation can accomplish. Insecurity, jealousy, tunnel vision – these will keep us from seeing beyond ourselves and beyond our life time.

If we will understand waves and transitions – if we will position ourselves in front of the wave, God can continue to use us.